Rainfed corn (Zea mays L.) yields in the northern High Plains can range from 0 to 8,740 kg/ha or more. Since 2000, many producers in this region have experienced low, unprofitable yields as a result of severe, persistent drought. Research on skip row planting of corn, which has been conducted since 2003, suggests that this approach can reduce the risk of complete crop failure as a result of drought, but results have been variable. Why have the results been so variable? Many factors enter into the equation. These include yield potential, timing and amount of rainfall, and crop residue levels. The use of small plot equipment and frequent foot traffic for data collection in these experiments frequently resulted in very low levels of crop residue. Many farmers with good crop residue levels have had better results than some of the research plots might suggest. Observation and research results indicate how important crop residue levels are in rainfed corn production in the northern High Plains. Crop residues reduce the E (evaporation) in ET (evapotranspiration), leaving more soil water available to the crop. Research with irrigated corn in the area has demonstrated up to 10.16 centimeters of soil water loss through evaporation on bare soil as compared to soil with 80 to 100% crop residue cover. Most of this soil water loss occurs before canopy closure. Even if the skip row system conserves water, it will be at a disadvantage with minimal residue since we usually do not ever get canopy closure in the skip row system, especially with the plant-two skip-two configuration.